How can I end the nightmare that is my lease?

[anneimich]

What is the name of your state? Ohio

I have a unique situation in which my landlord is in the process of selling the house that I'm renting to his son. His son is, therefore, my roommate. This place was filthy and cluttered when I moved in and has only improved where I've cleaned. The son allows his dog to deficate throughout the upstairs. The smell blows through the vents which blow cold air. My bedroom windows have been cracked since before I moved in and let in a draft. His son leaves garbage and dirty dishes all over the kitchen for weeks at a time. The house is packed with belongings of my landlord and his family members that do not live with me. The landlord and his family also won't change their mailing address, so I have to sort through their mail to find mine. Due to the address problem, I received a voicemail message for my landlord on the phone line that I alone pay for. My lease doesn't mention his son anywhere and doesn't say anything about me living with him. Supposedly, he is the acting landlord, but he doesn't fix anything. He told me that I could just put plastic over the windows that are cracked. I've been here since September 1st and most of my belongings are still in boxes because there is no room for me. What are my options? Ideally, I would like to legally terminate this lease with as little hassle as possible. I've already submitted a list of complaints with the deadline of January 1st, 2007 to my landlord. He should receive it tomorrow. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Lara Nadia]

Dear Anneimich,
I cannot offer you legal advise; but, stand by for others who might. Wow, your living arrangement sounds very unpleasant to say the least. Did you sign a lease? Or do you have a month to month? Did you know prior to moving in that the son would be your roommate/live in landlord? Best to you, and I hope you can find a satisfactory resolution to this.

 

[justalayman]

I have a unique situation in which my landlord is in the process of selling the house that I'm renting to his son. His son is, therefore, my roommate.

OK, I have to ask; how does the facts of the house being sold make you say "His son is therefore my roommate"

I don't get it. Does you lease give the son some rights as a tenant?

If not, since you have waited so long, you may have trouble getting him out without legal action but the first thing I would do is call the cops and report the son as a trespasser. If they give you the "it's a civil matter" and such, you are goinjg tp have to evict him as your allowance pof him living there without action makes you his dw facto landlord.

re: left over possessions; I would have to look but most states generally require some official notification to the owner of the junk followed by a reasonable time after which you maybe able to give the stuff to the garbage man.



this is a link that gives answers in plain English concerning Ohio landlord tneant laws.

http://www.tenant.net/Other_Areas/Ohio/landlord.html

here is a link that lists some contact numbers for agencies that deal with landlord tenant situations

http://ci.fairborn.oh.us/web pdfs/nb06.pdf

obviously ignore the Fairbanks specific one (unless you are in Fairbanks bit there are some state agencies listed)


based upon those links info, you do have a right to terminate IF you follow proper procedure and the issues are not remedied.

 

[anneimich]

The son moved in just after I did and is paying toward owning the house. My lease does not list him anywhere. My lease states that I am renting the premises; it does not say that I am renting a room or will have roommates. Also, my lease states that no pets are allowed, but his dog deficates throughout the upstairs and has gotten into my things a few times. Mainly, it tore into my garbage and dragged it around the house, which took me quite awhile to clean up. It also urinated on my afghan.

I will still check the sites that you've referred me to. I appreciate your advice and research. Thank you for pointing me in the right direction. I just want to make sure that I cross every "t" in this.

 

[acmb05]

The son moved in just after I did and is paying toward owning the house. My lease does not list him anywhere. My lease states that I am renting the premises; it does not say that I am renting a room or will have roommates. Also, my lease states that no pets are allowed, but his dog deficates throughout the upstairs and has gotten into my things a few times. Mainly, it tore into my garbage and dragged it around the house, which took me quite awhile to clean up. It also urinated on my afghan.

I will still check the sites that you've referred me to. I appreciate your advice and research. Thank you for pointing me in the right direction. I just want to make sure that I cross every "t" in this.

Why did you allow his son to move into the home that you were renting?

 

[anneimich]

I was told that he would be the "acting landlord" because he is going to purchase the home from his father the actual landlord. Even though my lease states that I am renting the entire premises and does not mention the posibility of roommates at anytime, because he was going to be purchasing the home, I naively accepted the situation. I don't have a lot of rental experience, so I was not completely aware of my rights. Now, I have reached my limit of tolerance because 3 months into this lease I am still having to live out of boxes because he takes up the whole place with his belongings, garbage and his family's belongings; and because he refuses to repair anything. This has caused me to scrutinize my lease and ask for assistance in clarifying Ohio Renter's rights and procedures to follow. I am certain that I have the grounds to end this lease. I just want to make sure that I do everything right so that I am not penalized.